December 20, 2011

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If you live in the South, you probably know a thing or two about Pimento Cheese. It’s a summertime staple, for one, and the secret to amazing PC is extra sharp cheddar. You can dress it up by adding dill, jalapenos or even bacon.

This gooey side-dish was a hit at Thanksgiving and has already been requested for upcoming gatherings. The cheese sauce is to-die-for and I think if you added a little chicken stock, you could turn it into a mean Pimento Cheese Soup. I’ve also thought you could layer with crispy hash browns for a great breakfast casserole — especially on Christmas morning. But back to the recipe at hand…

1. Heat the oven to 375°F, with racks positioned in the middle and the top third of the oven. In a 3- to 4-quart stockpot, bring 2 quarts water and 2 teaspoons of the salt to a boil. Add the potatoes and cook for 10 minutes. Then drain, and set them aside.

2. Combine the cream, shallots, chile flakes, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, the black pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the liquid from the jar of roasted peppers in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook until the chile flakes have begun to stain the cream, about 2 minutes. Add half of the cheese and stir until it melts, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat.

3. Layer roughly a third of the potatoes in a 6-cup baking dish, overlapping them slightly so that they fit in an even layer. Scatter half of the roasted peppers on top of the potatoes (cut up any peppers that have remained whole so that they lie flat), and repeat layering potatoes and peppers until all the peppers and potatoes have been used. Pour the cream mixture over the potatoes and peppers, and agitate the dish to distribute the liquid throughout. Cover with aluminum foil and bake on the middle rack for 15 minutes.

4. Uncover the dish, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, and place the dish on the top oven rack. Bake for 8 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and gently browned on top. Serve immediately.

A little hint: You can assemble this dish ahead of time and pop in the oven when you’re ready.